Oil removing tool and method

ABSTRACT

A simple, lightweight tool for enabling a serviceman to rapidly and conveniently remove oil from a crankcase of a compressor or the like, or remove enough oil to bring the oil level to the proper height as determined by the compressor manufacturer, comprising an elongated tube with a valve coacting with the tube for controlling the flow of oil or liquid therethrough, and having a coupling mounted on the tube and adapted for coupling with an access opening in the crankcase for mounting the tool on the crankcase. The coupling is movable lengthwise of the tube for providing for selectively adjusting the position of the ingress end of the tube with respect to the bottom of the crankcase. The coupling includes a sealing means for sealing the tube with respect to the access opening and said coupling after adjustment positioning of the tube, so that no oil leakage about the coupling occurs. The oil is forced from the crankcase through the tube by pressurizing the crankcase, and control of the oil is accomplished by actuation of the valve which in conjunction with an elongated discharge tubing coacting with the valve, can expeditiously convey the oil from the crankcase to a distant location from the compressor.

llnite 8tatee tel Luterick 1 OIL REMOVING TOOL AND METHOD [76] Inventor:Hugh C. Luterick, 14559 State Rd.,

North Royalton, Ohio 44133 [22] Filed: Feb. 12, 1973 [21] Appl. No.:331,552

[52] 11.8. CI 184/15, 137/320, 222/464 [51] Int. Cl. FOlm 11/04 [58]Field of Search 137/317, 320, 322, 323,

Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Baldwin,Egan, Walling & Fetzer 1 .lan.7,1975

[57] ABSTRACT A simple, lightweight tool for enabling a Serviceman torapidly and conveniently remove oil from a crankcase of a compressor orthe like, or remove enough oil to bring the oil level to the properheight as determined by the compressor manufacturer, comprising anelongated tube with a valve coacting with the tube for controlling theflow of oil or liquid therethrough, and having a coupling mounted on thetube and adapted for coupling with an access opening in the crankcasefor mounting the tool on the crankcase. The coupling is movablelengthwise of the tube for providing for selec' tively adjusting theposition of the ingress end of the tube with respect to the bottom ofthe crankcase; The coupling includes a sealing means for sealing thetube with respect to the access opening and said coupling afteradjustment positioning of the tube, so that no oil leakage about thecoupling occurs. The oil is forced from the crankcase through the tubeby pressurizing the crankcase, and control of the oil is accomplished byactuation of the valve which in conjunction with an elongated dischargetubing coacting with the valve, can expeditiously convey the oil fromthe crankcase to a distant location from the compressor.

10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ll OlllL REMOVING TOOL AND METHOD Thisinvention relates in general to a lightweight, portable tool foreffecting expeditious and rapid removal of oil from the crankcase of acompressor, such as for instance a refrigeration compressor, or thelike, and more particularly to an oil removing tool that can be rapidlyadjusted for use with various makes or designs of crankcases, andespecially various makes of refrigeration compressor crankcases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The removal of oil from the crankcases ofcompressors used in refrigeration and the like many times is a ratherdifficult and time consuming job. Sometimes such compressors are stackedor placed in close proximity to one another and/or in small arealocations, which severely restricts a workman from obtaining convenientaccess to the usual drain plugs in the compressor crankcase, andmaterially inhibits the ability of a workman to catch the oil as itgushes from the drain plug. Accordingly, many times a workman whodesires to change the oil, will merely open the drain plug and let thewaste oil drain onto the floor, thereby creating unsanitary and messyconditions which have to be subsequently cleaned up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novellightweight, portable tool which can be used to rapidly discharge oilfrom the crankcase of a compressor or the like, such as for instance thecompressor of a refrigeration unit, and in a manner whereby the oil flowcan be conveniently controlled, for direction to a spaced or distantreceiving receptacle, and wherein the tool is readily adjustable for usewith different makes of compressors, so that the tool can be utilizedfor draining oil from different makes and designs of compressors.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a novel portabletool for conveniently removing oil from the crankcase of a compressor orthe like, such as for instance the compressor of a commercialrefrigeration unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above typewherein the oil is forced by pressurization of the crankcase chamber,through the tool, and where means is provided for controlling the oilflow and directing it to a convenient discharge receptacle, or to somepoint distal from the crankcase mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lightweight, portabletool which can be conveniently carried by a workman, which can beutilized with many different makes or types of compressors, forconveniently and rapidly removing oil from the crankcase thereof, and ina manner whereby the removed oil can be disposed of withoutcontaminating the area about the compressor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method forremoving oil from the crankcase of a refrigeration compressor, or thelike.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a fragmentary, generallydiagrammatic, perspective, illustration of the tool of the inventioninserted into a threaded access opening in a refrigeration compressorcrankcase, for removing the lubricating oil therefrom;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, broken, elevational view of the toolillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view of the coupling means for couplingthe tool of the invention in the threaded opening in the compressorcrankcase, and illustrating the associated deformable collar for sealingthe tube of the tool to prevent leakage of oil thereabout, duringremoval of oil from the crankcase; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged elevational view of a modified form ofthe tool of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The tool 10 (FIG. 1) comprises atube 12 which in the embodiment illustrated is of generally linearextension. Tube 12 may be formed of any suitable material such as forinstance copper, and has an ingress end 14 and an egress end 16. A valvemember 18 coacts with the tube, for controlling the flow of oil from theingress end 14 of the tube through the tube, and with the valveincluding a discharge port 20 which coacts in liquidtight relation viathreaded coupling 22, with stub tubing 24 disposed generallyperpendicular to the tubing section 12. Tubing section 241 may belikewise formed of any suitable material, such as for instance copper.It will be seen that oil flowing into ingress end 14 of tube 12, flowsthrough the tube 12, through the valve 18 and out the discharge port 20.

A preferably flexible tubing or hose section 26 is coupled in sealedrelationship as by means of fastener clamp 27 to the stub tube 24, fordirecting the oil or other liquid removed by the tool, to a dischargereceptacle D, which may be disposed a considerable distance from thelocation of the compressor mechanism M, which in the embodimentillustrated represents a commercial refrigeration compressor. Thecrankcase 28 of the compressor may include a conventional embossment 30which defines a threaded opening 32 therethrough, which communicateswith the interior of the compressor, and which is normally closed bymeans of a threaded plug (not shown).

Mounted on tube section 12 is a coupler means 34 adapted for mountingthe tool in access opening 32. Coupler means 341 comprises a ferrule 35including an externally threaded base section 35a and an externallythreaded head section 35b, separated by an integral nut section 350.Longitudinal passageway 36 through the ferrule member is adapted toreceive the tube 12 therein in readily slidable relation.

Coupling means 34 includes sealing means 38 for sealing the tube 12against oil leakage at the coupling means. Sealing means 38includes'internally threaded sleeve 40, with the threads 42 thereofbeing adapted for threaded coaction with threaded head 35b on theferrule. Sealing means 38 also includes a deformable collar 44 mountedin sleeve 40 and having a passageway 44a therethrough receivingtherethrough the tubing section 12. Collar 44 which may be formed ofplastic, such as for instance nylon, is movably retained by enlargement4m in sleeve 40 and is adapted to be deformed by threaded head section35b of the ferrule, upon tightening of the metal sleeve 40 onto the headsection, and into sealing, gripping relationship with the tubing section12, to thus seal the tubing section 12 with respect to the coupling 34and prevent leakage of oil about the tube 12 during removal of the oilfrom the crankcase of the refrigeration compressor mechanism M.

Prior to tightening the sleeve member 40 onto the threaded head 35b ofthe ferrule, the tool including the tube 12 is adjusted by moving itlengthwise with respect to the coupling 34, to position the lower end ofthe tub ing section 12 closely adjacent the bottom wall of thecrankcase, thus, ensuring that all of the oil in the crankcase chamberwill be exhausted or removed therefrom, and permitting ready use of thetool with different makes of compressors which may have different depthsof crankcase chambers in relation to the threaded access opening 32thereinto. It will be understood that the base 35a of the ferrule 35 isfirst threaded into the threaded opening 32 in the crankcase to mountthe tool in the access opening of the crankcase, and as shown in FIG. 1.Movement of the ingress end of the tool into engagement with the bottomof the crankcase tells the serviceman by feel that the end of tube 12 isadjacent the bottom of the crankcase.

After the tubing section 12 is properly positioned with respect to thebottom wall of the crankcase chamber, the sealing sleeve 40 is threadedtightly onto the head section 35b of the coupling means, which causesthe sealing collar 44 to be urged into gripping, sealing relationshipwith respect to the tubing section 12, thus sealing the tubing againstescape of oil about coupling 34.

Thereafter, the crankcase may be pressurized for instance by use of avalve V (FIG. 1) conventionally found on one end of the compressormechanism, and to a pressure of approximately to psig, so that the oilin the compressor chamber, which is adapted to be exhausted, is underpredetermined pressure, thereafter valve V can be returned to offcondition.

Prior to pressurization of the compressor crankcase chamber, the handle48 and associated stem 48a of the valve 18 is rotated so as to close thevalve 18, so that the oil can not be forced out of the tool past thevalve while pressurization of the crankcase chamber is occurring. Theend of the disposal conduit 26 can be placed in a suitable dischargecontainer D, which may be disposed close to the compressor, or ifconditions prohibit such, can be disposed a considerable distance awayfrom the compressor; or the container D can be disposed at a higherlevel than the level of the crankcase of the compressor. The valve 18 isthen opened so as to permit the pressure in the crankcase chamber toforce the oil therein through the ingress end 14 of tube 12, up throughthe tube through the valve 18, out the stub tube 24, and then out thedistal end of the tubing 26 to the container D, thus conveniently andrapidly removing all of the oil from the crankcase of the compressor,and enabling the oil to be removed without contamination of the areaaround the compressor. Moreover, it will be seen that if the oil levelin the crankcase happens to be too high, the tool can be used to removeonly a portion of the oil, to lower the level of the oil to the properheight as determined by the compressor manufacturer. Sight glass 49 canbe monitored by the Serviceman to insure the proper level of oil in thecompressor illustrated. Tubing 26 is preferably translucent ortransparent so that the flow of oil therethrough can be visuallyobserved.

After all the oil is removed from the crankcase of the compressor andthe pressure within the latter has fallen to zero psig, the sealingsleeve 40 can be loosened, and the ferrule 35 can be rotated so as toremove the ferrule from access opening 32 in the crankcase wallwhereupon the tool may be removed from opening 32. Thereafter, fresh oilcan be placed into the compressor crankcase and the conventional plugcan be rethreaded into opening 32 to seal the latter. The oil removedfrom the compressor crankcase can then be properly disposed of.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown another embodiment of the tool. Likeparts have been referred to with like reference numbers, except that thesuffix prime has been added thereto. The tool 10' of this embodimentincludes a gooseneck section 52 coupled to the egress end 16' of thetube section 12', and then the gooseneck section 52 is coupled as bymeans of a threaded connection 53 to the valve 18. In other respects,tool 10 may be generally similar to that of tool 10 of the firstdescribed embodiment.

The gooseneck section of the tool provides utility to the tool when forinstance compressors are closely stacked together and not sufficientspace is provided between the compressors without interference betweenparts of the compressors or someother part of the refrigerationmechanism. By rotating the tool about the lengthwise axis of tubesection 12' the valve portion 18 can be positioned so as to provide foraccessibility in controlling the operation of the handle 48' thereof.With such an arrangement it will be seen that the stem 48a of theoperating handle portion 48' is not coaxial with the lengthwise axis ofthe tube section 12' as is the stem 48a of the first describedembodiment.

While the tube sections 12 and 12 were described as being made of, forinstance copper tubing, it will be understood that such tubing sectionscan be formed of plastic material such as for instance a flexibleplastic material, to enable some flexibility in the tube section 12 or12 to more readily permit its passage by obstructions that might befound in a crankcase chamber of a compressor. However, a more or lessrigid, generally linearly extending tubing section 12 or 12 is preferredfor the tool, although a flexible tubing section is useful inconjunction with very close working conditions wherein space forinsertion of the tool into the access opening is at a premium.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be seenthat the invention provides a novel lightweight, portable tool whichenables a serviceman to rapidly and expeditiously remove oil from acrankcase of a compressor or the like, and wherein the tool includes anelongated tube having coupling means movable lengthwise of the tube formounting the tool in an access opening of the crankcase disposed abovethe bottom wall of the crankcase, and with the coupling means includingmeans for sealing the coupling means with respect to the tube to preventleakage of oil at the coupling means, and wherein the tube is movablelengthwise with respect to the coupling means prior to actuation of thesealing means, to position the ingress end of the tube closely adjacentto the bottom of the crankcase, for ensuring removal of all of the oilfrom the crankcase. The invention also provides a novel method forremoving oil from the crankcase of a compressor or the like.

The terms and expressions which have been used are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation and there is no intention in the useof such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of any of thefeatures shown or described, or portions thereof, and it is recognizedthat various modifications are possible within the scope of theinvention claimed.

What is claimed is:

t. ln a portable tool for removing oil from a crankcase of a compressor,comprising, an elongated tube having an ingress end and an egress end,coupling means movable lengthwise of the tube adapted for mounting saidtool in a threaded axis opening in the crankcase disposed above thebottom wall of the crankcase, said coupling means including means forsealing the coupling means with respect to the tube, the latterextending completely through said coupling means, said sealing meansincluding a sealing collar disposed in an externally accessible sleeve,said collar being adapted to be compressed into gripping, sealedcoaction with said tube upon predetermined tightening actuation of saidsleeve onto said coupling means to prevent leakage of oil between saidtube and said coupling means, said tube being selectively movablegenerally lengthwise and with respect to said coupling means prior tosealing actuation of said sealing means, to position the ingress end ofsaid tube close to the bottom of the crankcase when said tool is mountedon the crankcase, for insuring the removal of substantially all of theoil from the crankcase, valve means coacting with said tube in mountedrelation thereon for controlling the flow of liquid through said tubeand said valve means downstream from said ingress end of said tube forconveying oil from the crankcase through said valve means to a distallocation with respect to said tube, said coupling means comprising aferrule member having an externally threaded base section adapted to bereceived in threaded coaction in the threaded access opening in thecrankcase, an intermediate exteriorly accessible ferrule actuationsection providing for selective rotation of said ferrule member, and anexternally threaded head section coaxially disposed with respect to saidbase section and said intermediate section, said sleeve being internallythreaded and disposable in threaded coaction with said threaded headsection, the latter coacting with said collar for causing squeezing ofthe collar into sealing relationship with respect to the tube and withrespect to said head section upon predetermined threading of said sleeveonto said head section, said threaded base section, said intermediateferrule actuation section and said sealing means providing rapidlyactuatable means for mounting the tool on the crankcase and whereby saidtube can be rapidly adjusted lengthwise thereof to locate said ingressend adjacent the bottom of the crankcase and said tube can be placed insealed relation with respect to said ferrule member, and also providingfor rapid removal of the tool including said coupling means from mountedrelation on the crankcase, upon completion of the oil removing operationand without total disassembly of said coupling means.

2. In combination, a portable tool for removing oil from a crankcase ofa compressor for a refrigeration unit, and the crankcase, said crankcasehaving a threaded access opening disposed above the bottom wall of saidcrankcase, said tool comprising an elongated tube having an ingress endand an egress end, coupling means movable lengthwise of said tubemounting said tool in said threaded access opening in said crankcase,said coupling means including means for sealing the coupling means withrespect to the tube, said sealing means including a sealing collardisposed in an externally accessible sleeve, said collar being adaptedto be compressed into gripping sealed coaction with said tube uponpredetermined tightening actua tion of said sleeve onto said couplingmeans to prevent leakage of oil between said tube and said couplingmeans, said tube being movable generally lengthwise with respect to saidcoupling means prior to sealing actuation of said sealing means toposition the ingress end of said tube close to the bottom of thecrankcase when the tool is mounted on the crankcase for insuring theremoval of substantially all of the oil from the crankcase, valve meanscoacting with said tube in mounted relation thereon for controlling theflow of liquid through said tube and said valve means, flexible conduitmeans coacting with said valve means downstream from said ingress end ofsaid tube for conveying oil from the crankcase through said valve meansto a distal location with respect to said tube, said coupling meanscomprising a ferrule member having an externally threaded base sectionreceived in threaded coaction in said threaded access opening in thecrankcase, and an externally threaded head section coaxially disposedwith respect to said base section, said sleeve being internally threadedand disposable in threaded coaction with said threaded head section, thelatter coacting with said collar for causing squeezing of the collarinto sealing relationship with respect to the tube and with respect tosaid head section upon predetermined threading of said sleeve onto saidhead section, said threaded base section and said sealing meansproviding rapidly actuatable means for mounting the tool on thecrankcase whereby said tube can be rapidly adjusted lengthwise thereofto locate said ingress end adjacent the bottom of the crankcase and saidtube can be placed in sealed relation with respect to said ferrulemember, and also providing for rapid removal of the tool from mountedrelation on the crankcase, and with said tube extending completelythrough said ferrule member, said collar and said sleeve into theinterior of said crankcase and being maintained in predetermined grippedposition by the coaction between said collar and said tube and betweensaid collar and said sleeve.

3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tube isflexible.

4. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tube issubstantially linear and said valve means is mounted on one end of saidtube, said valve means including an actuating stem portion disposedsubstantially coaxial with said tube.

5. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tube has agooseneck portion at one end with said valve means being downstream ofsaid gooseneck portion in a direction toward the distal end of thelatter.

6. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said valve meansincludes a manually operable handle portion comprising a stem disposedin alignment with the lengthwise axis of said tube, said valve meansalso including a discharge port the axis of which is disposed generallyperpendicular to the lengthwise axis of said tube.

7. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said sealingcollar is formed of plastic material, such as for instance nylon.

8. In the method of removing oil from a crankcase of a compressor of arefrigeration unit through a threaded access opening therein disposedabove the bottom wall of the crankcase, comprising, providing a portabletool which includes an elongated tube having an ingress end and anegress end, a valve means on the tube for controlling the flow of liquidthrough the tube, and a coupler mounted on the tube and movablelengthwise thereof, said coupler including actuatable means forselectively sealing the coupler with respect to the tube and means forthreadedly mounting the coupler and tube in said opening comprising,inserting the ingress end of the tube into said opening and threadingthe coupler into the access opening in the crankcase to movably mountsaid tube of the tool in the access opening, moving the tube generallylengthwise with respect to and through the coupler so as to position theingress end of the tube closely adjacent the bottom of the crankcase,actuating the sealing means to hold and seal the selectively positionedtube with respect to the coupler for preventing escape of oilthereabout, closing the valve means and pressurizing the crankcase sothat the oil in the crankcase of the compressor is urged outwardly ofthe tube toward said valve means by the pressure in said crankcase,opening the valve means to permit the flow of oil from the crankcasethrough the tube and the valve means, and utilizing a flexible conduitmeans coacting in communicating relation with the valve means to conveythe oil passing from the crankcase through said valve means to alocation distant from the crankcase, and then depressurizing thecrankcase, deactuating the sealing means so as to release the hold ofthe latter on said tube, unthreading the coupler from the access openingin the crankcase, and removing the tool including the tube and couplerfrom the access opening.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said actuation of thesealing means includes the step of threading a rotatable sleeve of thecoupler onto a threaded head portion of the coupler to deform a collardisposed in the sleeve into gripping sealed coaction with the tube forholding and sealing the tube with respect to the coupler, after the tubehas been positioned with respect to the bottom of the crankcase.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the tool includes agooseneck portion with the valve means disposed downstream of thegooseneck portion, and swinging the gooseneck portion with respect tothe lengthwise axis of the tube, so as to provide clearance to adjustthe valve means with respect to adjacent obstructions prior to actuationof the sealing means into holding and sealing relationship with thetube, thus permitting control of the valve means for egress of oil fromthe crankcase and without interference from adjacent obstructions.

1. In a portable tool for removing oil from a crankcase of a compressor,comprising, an elongated tube having an ingress end and an egress end,coupling means movable lengthwise of the tube adapted for mounting saidtool in a threaded axis opening in the crankcase disposed above thebottom wall of the crankcase, said coupling means including means forsealing the coupling means with respect to the tube, the latterextending completely through said coupling means, said sealing meansincluding a sealing collar disposed in an externally accessible sleeve,said collar being adapted to be compressed into gripping, sealedcoaction with said tube upon predetermined tightening actuation of saidsleeve onto said coupling means to prevent leakage of oil between saidtube and said coupling means, said tube being selectively movablegenerally lengthwise and with respect to said coupling means prior tosealing actuation of said sealing means, to position the ingress end ofsaid tube close to the bottom of the crankcase when said tool is mountedon the crankcase, for insuring the removal of substantially all of theoil from the crankcase, valve means coacting with said tube in mountedrelation thereon for controlling the flow of liquid through said tubeand said valve means downstream from said ingress end of said tube forconveying oil from the crankcase through said valve means to a distallocation with respect to said tube, said coupling means comprising aferrule member having an externally threaded base section adapted to bereceived in threaded coaction in the threaded access opening in thecrankcase, an intermediate exteriorly accessible ferrule actuationsection providing for selective rotation of said ferrule member, and anexternally threaded head section coaxially disposed with respect to saidbase section and said intermediate section, said sleeve being internallythreaded and disposable in threaded coaction with said threaded headsection, the latter coacting with said collar for causing squeezing ofthe collar into sealing relationship with respect to the tube and withrespect to said head section upon predetermined threading of said sleeveonto said head section, said threaded base section, said intermediateferrule actuation section and said sealing means providing rapidlyactuatable means for mounting the tool on the crankcase and whereby saidtube can be rapidly adjusted lengthwise thereof to locate said ingressend adjacent the bottom of the crankcase and said tube can be placed insealed relation with respect to said ferrule member, and also providingfor rapid removal of the tool including said coupling means from mountedrelation on the crankcase, upon completion of the oil removing operationand without total disassembly of said coupling means.
 2. In combination,a portable tool for removing oil from a crankcase of a compressor for arefrigeration unit, and the crankcase, said crankcase having a threadedaccess opening disposed above the bottom wall of said crankcase, saidtool comprising an elongated tube having an ingress end and an egressend, coupling means movable lengthwise of said tube mounting said toolin said threaded access opening in said crankcase, said coupling meansincluding means for sealing the coupling means with respect to the tube,said sealing means including a sealing collar disposed in an externallyaccessible sleeve, said collar being adapted to be compressed intogripping sealed coaction with said tube upon predetermined tighteningactuation of said sleeve onto said coupling means to prevent leakage ofoil between said tube and said coupling means, said tube being movablegenerally lengthwise with respect to said coupling means prior tosealing actuation of said sealing means to position the ingress end ofsaid tube close to the bottom of the crankcase when the tool is mountedon the crankcase for insuring the removal of substantially all of theoil from the crankcase, valve means coacting with said tube in mountedrelation thereon for controlling the flow of liquid through said tubeand said valve means, flexible conduit means coacting with said valvemeans downstream from said ingress end of said tube for conveying oilfrom the crankcase through said valve means to a distal location withrespect to said tube, said coupling Means comprising a ferrule memberhaving an externally threaded base section received in threaded coactionin said threaded access opening in the crankcase, and an externallythreaded head section coaxially disposed with respect to said basesection, said sleeve being internally threaded and disposable inthreaded coaction with said threaded head section, the latter coactingwith said collar for causing squeezing of the collar into sealingrelationship with respect to the tube and with respect to said headsection upon predetermined threading of said sleeve onto said headsection, said threaded base section and said sealing means providingrapidly actuatable means for mounting the tool on the crankcase wherebysaid tube can be rapidly adjusted lengthwise thereof to locate saidingress end adjacent the bottom of the crankcase and said tube can beplaced in sealed relation with respect to said ferrule member, and alsoproviding for rapid removal of the tool from mounted relation on thecrankcase, and with said tube extending completely through said ferrulemember, said collar and said sleeve into the interior of said crankcaseand being maintained in predetermined gripped position by the coactionbetween said collar and said tube and between said collar and saidsleeve.
 3. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said tubeis flexible.
 4. The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein saidtube is substantially linear and said valve means is mounted on one endof said tube, said valve means including an actuating stem portiondisposed substantially coaxial with said tube.
 5. The combination inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said tube has a gooseneck portion at oneend with said valve means being downstream of said gooseneck portion ina direction toward the distal end of the latter.
 6. The combination inaccordance with claim 2 wherein said valve means includes a manuallyoperable handle portion comprising a stem disposed in alignment with thelengthwise axis of said tube, said valve means also including adischarge port the axis of which is disposed generally perpendicular tothe lengthwise axis of said tube.
 7. The combination in accordance withclaim 2 wherein said sealing collar is formed of plastic material, suchas for instance nylon.
 8. In the method of removing oil from a crankcaseof a compressor of a refrigeration unit through a threaded accessopening therein disposed above the bottom wall of the crankcase,comprising, providing a portable tool which includes an elongated tubehaving an ingress end and an egress end, a valve means on the tube forcontrolling the flow of liquid through the tube, and a coupler mountedon the tube and movable lengthwise thereof, said coupler includingactuatable means for selectively sealing the coupler with respect to thetube and means for threadedly mounting the coupler and tube in saidopening comprising, inserting the ingress end of the tube into saidopening and threading the coupler into the access opening in thecrankcase to movably mount said tube of the tool in the access opening,moving the tube generally lengthwise with respect to and through thecoupler so as to position the ingress end of the tube closely adjacentthe bottom of the crankcase, actuating the sealing means to hold andseal the selectively positioned tube with respect to the coupler forpreventing escape of oil thereabout, closing the valve means andpressurizing the crankcase so that the oil in the crankcase of thecompressor is urged outwardly of the tube toward said valve means by thepressure in said crankcase, opening the valve means to permit the flowof oil from the crankcase through the tube and the valve means, andutilizing a flexible conduit means coacting in communicating relationwith the valve means to convey the oil passing from the crankcasethrough said valve means to a location distant from the crankcase, andthen depressurizing the crankcase, deactuating the sealing means so asto release the hold of the latter on said tuBe, unthreading the couplerfrom the access opening in the crankcase, and removing the toolincluding the tube and coupler from the access opening.
 9. A method inaccordance with claim 8 wherein said actuation of the sealing meansincludes the step of threading a rotatable sleeve of the coupler onto athreaded head portion of the coupler to deform a collar disposed in thesleeve into gripping sealed coaction with the tube for holding andsealing the tube with respect to the coupler, after the tube has beenpositioned with respect to the bottom of the crankcase.
 10. A method inaccordance with claim 8 wherein the tool includes a gooseneck portionwith the valve means disposed downstream of the gooseneck portion, andswinging the gooseneck portion with respect to the lengthwise axis ofthe tube, so as to provide clearance to adjust the valve means withrespect to adjacent obstructions prior to actuation of the sealing meansinto holding and sealing relationship with the tube, thus permittingcontrol of the valve means for egress of oil from the crankcase andwithout interference from adjacent obstructions.